Reactive transport modeling constraints on the complex genesis of a lacustrine dolomite reservoir:A case from the Eocene Qaidam Basin,China

Reactive transport modeling(RTM)is an emerging method used to address geological issues in diagenesis research.However,the extrapolation of RTM results to practical reservoir prediction is not sufficiently understood.This paper presents a case study of the Eocene Qaidam Basin that combines RTM results with petrological and mineralogical evidence.The results show that the Eocene Xiaganchaigou Formation is characterized by mixed siliciclastic-carbonate-evaporite sedimentation in a semiclosed saline lacustrine environment.Periodic evaporation and salinization processes during the syngeneticpenecontemporaneous stage gave rise to the replacive genesis of dolomites and the cyclic enrichment of dolomite in the middle-upper parts of the meter-scale depositional sequences.The successive change in mineral paragenesis from terrigenous clastics to carbonates to evaporites was reconstructed using RTM simulations.Parametric uncertainty analyses further suggest that the evaporation intensity(brine salinity)and particle size of sediments(reactive surface area)were important rate-determining factors in the dolomitization,as shown by the relatively higher reaction rates under conditions of higher brine salinity and fine-grained sediments.Combining the simulation results with measured mineralogical and reservoir physical property data indicates that the preservation of original intergranular pores and the generation of porosity via replacive dolomitization were the major formation mechanisms of the distinctive lacustrine dolomite reservoirs(widespread submicron intercrystalline micropores)in the Eocene Qaidam Basin.The results confirm that RTM can be effectively used in geological studies,can provide a better general understanding of the dolomitizing fluid-rock interactions,and can shed light on the spatiotemporal evolution of mineralogy and porosity during dolomitization and the formation of lacustrine dolomite reservoirs.

Genetic mechanism and main controlling factors of high-quality clastic rock reservoirs in deep and ultradeep layers:A case study of Oligocene Linhe Formation in Linhe Depression,Hetao Basin,NW China

Based on new data from cores,drilling and logging,combined with extensive rock and mineral testing analysis,a systematic analysis is conducted on the characteristics,diagenesis types,genesis and controlling factors of deep to ultra-deep abnormally high porosity clastic rock reservoirs in the Oligocene Linhe Formation in the Hetao Basin.The reservoir space of the deep to ultra-deep clastic rock reservoirs in the Linhe Formation is mainly primary pores,and the coupling of three favorable diagenetic elements,namely the rock fabric with strong compaction resistance,weak thermal compaction diagenetic dynamic field,and diagenetic environment with weak fluid compaction-weak cementation,is conducive to the preservation of primary pores.The Linhe Formation clastic rocks have a superior preexisting material composition,with an average total content of 90%for quartz,feldspar,and rigid rock fragments,and strong resistance to compaction.The geothermal gradient in Linhe Depression in the range of(2.0–2.6)°C/100 m is low,and together with the burial history of long-term shallow burial and late rapid deep burial,it forms a weak thermal compaction diagenetic dynamic field environment.The diagenetic environment of the saline lake basin is characterized by weak fluid compaction.At the same time,the paleosalinity has zoning characteristics,and weak cementation in low salinity areas is conducive to the preservation of primary pores.The hydrodynamic conditions of sedimentation,salinity differentiation of ancient water in saline lake basins,and sand body thickness jointly control the distribution of high-quality reservoirs in the Linhe Formation.

Reservoir geological modeling and significance of Cambrian Xiaoerblak Formation in Keping outcrop area, Tarim Basin, NW China

Take the Cambrian Xiaoerblak Formation in the Keping(Kalpin) outcrop area as an example, a 28 km reservoir scale geological model was built based on description of 7 profiles, observation of more than 1000 thin sections, petrophysical analysis of 556 samples and many geochemical tests. The Xiaoerblak Formation, 158–178 m thick, is divided into three members and 5 submembers, and is composed of laminated microbialite dolomite(LMD), thrombolite dolomite(TD), foamy-stromatolite dolomite(FSD), oncolite dolomite(OD), grain dolomite(GD)/crystalline dolomite with grain ghost and micritic dolomite(MD)/argillaceous dolomite. The petrology features show that its sediment sequence is micro-organism layer – microbial mound/shoal – tidal flat in carbonate ramp background from bottom up. The reservoir has 5 types of pores, namely, framework pore, dissolved vug, intergranular and intragranular dissolved pore and intercrystalline dissolved pore, as main reservoir space. It is found that the development of pore has high lithofacies selectivity, FSD has the highest average porosity, TD, OD and GD come second. The reservoir is pore-vug reservoir with medium-high porosity and medium-low permeability. The dolomite of Xiaoerblak Formation was formed in para-syngenetic to early diagenetic stage through dolomitization caused by seawater. The reservoir development is jointly controlled by sedimentary facies, micro-organism type, high frequency sequence interface and early dolomitization. The classⅠand Ⅱ reservoirs, with an average thickness of 41.2 m and average reservoir-stratum ratio of about 25.6%, have significant potential. It is predicted that the microbial mounds and shoals in the middle ramp around the ancient uplift are the favorable zones for reservoir development.

Characteristics and genesis of shoal facies reservoir of the Lower Ordovician Tongzi Formation in southeastern Sichuan Basin,China

The Lower Ordovician Tongzi Formation containing abundant shoal sediments is the most promising stratum for the petroleum exploration in the Sichuan Basin.However,the current studies mainly focus on the central part of the Basin,the systematic analysis of the southeastern part with well-developed shoal facies is lacking.This paper aims to clarify the characteristics and genesis of the Tongzi Formation reservoir in Southeastern Sichuan Basin,following an analysis of sedimentary facies within the sequence stratigraphic framework.The research shows that the main types of reservoir rocks are oolitic,intraclastic and bioclastic dolostones.And the reservoir spaces consist mainly of intergranular(dissolved)pores,intercrystalline(dissolved)pores,intragranular dissolved pores and fractures.Among them,intergranular pores account for the highest proportion,which is followed by intragranular dissolved pores.In addition,most throats are necking and flaky which mainly connect intergranular and intercrystalline pores,respectively.The diagenetic sequence shows that penecontemporaneous karst well improved the porosity of the reservoir in the early-stage although the cementation and compaction reduced parts of pores.The reservoir formation is associated with the tectonic-depositional settings,diageneses and terrigenous contamination.Paleohighlands and submerged uplifts,forming in the early Ordovician amalgamation between Yangtze and Cathaysia blocks,accumulated shoal sediments as the material basis for the reservoir formation.Penecontemporaneous karst forming intragranular dissolved pores and the dolomitization aiding grainstones to resist the pressure solution are the key to increasing porosity and preserving pores.The absence of terrigenous contamination prevented intergranular pores from being strongly cemented,which resulted in the reservoir difference between the central and southeastern Sichuan Basin.The study can be used as a reference for the further exploration of Ordovician petroleum in the Sichuan Basin and other regions owning similar geological settings.

Genesis and characteristics of the dolomite reservoirs in Middle Devonian Guanwushan Formation, Northwest Sichuan Basin, SW China

A great breakthrough has been made on oil-gas exploration of the Middle Devonian Guanwushan Formation in Northwest Sichuan Basin.The further exploration shows that the dolomite reservoir is complicated with insufficient investigation.Taking the Middle Devonian Guanwushan Formation as an example,systematic study has been carried out on its reservoir character,mechanism and genesis of dolostone.The field and core data suggest that reservoir types of Guanwushan Formation consist of crystalline dolomite,breccia dolomite and reef dolomite,and reservoir space is characterized by intercrystal(dissolution)pores,residual pores among breccias,intragranular dissolution pores,pockets as well as fractures.Besides,pore structure is of good configuration,showing medium-low porosity and moderate permeability,with average porosity and permeability of 2.23%and 0.44mD respectively,which suggesting fracture-pore and fracture-cavity reservoir.Combined with the previous research,it is suggested that the reservoir of Guanwushan Formation was controlled by facies,dolomitization and two-step karstification,with reef-shoal facies being material base for reservoir development,early dolomitization being key factor for reservoir space preservation,polyphase karstification being foundation for reservoir development and tectogenesis finally finalizing the reservoir.